Dirty Shirley Drinkrn

a close up shot of a tall glass of Dirty Shirley Drink garnished with a cherry and a slice of lime

The Dirty Shirley drink is a bubbly blend of vodka, lime, and soda, finished off with a cherry twist.

Table of Contents

Dirty Shirley Drink Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Dirty Shirley Drink Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
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This sweet and fizzy Dirty Shirley drink is an alcoholic twist on a classic Shirley Temple mocktail. A mix of grenadine, ginger ale, lime juice, and vodka, this drink will keep you refreshed all summer long.

Dirty Shirley Drink Ingredients

Dirty Shirley Drink raw ingredients that are labeled

The Dirty Shirley cocktail has a sweet and tangy flavor with the perfect balance of tartness to sweetness.

The vodka provides a smooth kick of warmth, while the ginger ale adds a subtle spiciness. The grenadine adds a classic sweetness that pairs perfectly with the hints of citrus from the lime juice.

You’ll need:

Ice
1½ ounces of vodka
1 ounce of grenadine
½ ounce of fresh lime juice (from half a lime)
4 ounces of ginger ale
Garnish the glass with a slice of lime and a maraschino cherry with a stem

PRO TIP:

Be sure to use freshly squeezed lime juice for this boozy Shirley Temple recipe. Half of a medium to large-sized lime will yield approximately ½ ounce, give or take. The lime juice in the bottles just does not have as good a flavor.

Substitutions And Additions

SODA: You can swap out the ginger ale for Sprite or any lemon-lime soda in this easy recipe.

While they both have different flavor profiles, they will both taste great with grenadine, lime juice, and vodka.

NON-ALCOHOLIC: The non-alcoholic version of this sweet cocktail is simply known as a Shirley Temple. You would just omit the vodka in this recipe.

How To Make This Dirty Shirley Drink Recipe

To make this easy cocktail, start by adding ice to your glass before pouring in the vodka, sweet grenadine, and citrusy lime juice before topping the glass with fizzy ginger ale.

Add a slice of lime and maraschino cherry garnish, and enjoy!

STEP ONE: Fill a 10-ounce highball or Collins glass with ice.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

For the best presentation of the beautiful layers in this drink, we recommend using a highball or Collins glass. However, if you have a preferred tall stemless glass, feel free to use it instead.

STEP TWO: Add the vodka, grenadine, and fresh lime juice to the ice-filled glass.

PRO TIP:

You can adjust the amount of grenadine syrup or vodka to make your Dirty Shirley drink as strong or sweet as you like.

vodka, grenadine and lime juice added to a glass

STEP THREE: Slowly pour the ginger ale into the glass without disturbing the grenadine layer too much. This will give you that beautiful gradient-layered look.

STEP FOUR: Garnish your glass with a thin slice of fresh lime and a maraschino cherry.

slice of lime and cherry garnished on the glass

How To Serve

This alcoholic Shirley Temple should be served with a straw. You can gently stir the drink with the straw to combine all the ingredients before drinking.

We think this drink is best served with light foods and snacks. Try serving it with chips and BLT dip, ham and Swiss sliders, or fruit salsa with cinnamon chips.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, pair your drink with a Caprese pasta salad or stuffed mushrooms.

If you’d like to try a few more of our cocktail recipes, we’d recommend our pink flamingo drink and pineapple cooler.

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Storage

IN THE FRIDGE/FREEZER: This sweet Dirty Shirley cocktail needs to be enjoyed immediately. We don’t recommend trying to keep it for any length of time.

The Dirty Shirley drink, also known as a flirty Shirley drink, is a great way to add a splash of color and flavor to any occasion. With its beautiful color, this alcoholic version of the favorite childhood drink will add a grown-up twist to a classic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a non-alcoholic version of this Shirley Temple cocktail drink?

The non-alcoholic version of this Dirty Shirley recipe is simply known as a Shirley Temple. You would just omit the vodka in this recipe.

What is the best glass to use for this recipe?

A highball glass or Collins glass is just the right size to make this Dirty Shirley drink in.

Can I make this drink ahead of time?

This alcoholic beverage won’t keep well as the ice will melt and water it down, and the ginger ale will lose its fizz. It is best to make it right when you are ready to enjoy it.

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